I live in a shed in my parents’ garden – it cost £1,500 and I don’t have to pay any rent – my life’s a breeze now
MANY people have to make sure they have enough money each month to pay rent - but not one savvy 24-year-old.
Veerle Veldhuis lives in her parents’ garden in a tiny shepherd's hut that looks like the ideal small home.
While many struggle to save up for their first home, Veerle’s tiny pad only cost £1,500 to buy.
She then set about transforming the seven-square-metre space into a cosy and peaceful place to stay.
Speaking to Insider, Veerle explained: “I moved back into their home in March 2022 after living at university for about two-and-a-½ years.
“I had been struggling with my mental health and came to realise that staying at university wasn't beneficial anymore and that I was pushing myself far beyond my limits. It was time for a change.”
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She had initially looked at houses closeby to her home, but they were all so “pricey” and there wasn’t much on the market.
Netherlands-based Veerle first got the idea for a tiny home after being on holiday in England, where she had stayed in a small lodging for four nights.
She set about trying to find something similar near her home, and found a secondhand one online that cost around $1,963 (£1,500).
Veerle, who shares her tiny home’s story on @tinyfieldhouse_, then set about replacing the flooring, and then “cheaply renovating” it using items she could get for free or pre-used.
This included using wood found in a bin to make the window frame, and a wooden countertop for the kitchen they had stored in the shed.
She spent two months making it into her perfect retreat and she moved in at the start of January.
Veerle had budgeted to spend £850 on the renovation project, but it had ended up being double that cost.
However, she is still thrilled with her new living situation.
She continued: “I don't have to worry about not having enough money to pay rent. Having my own space has been helpful for my mental health because I don't have to always pay attention to who's around me and I can do whatever I want.
“Overall, I'm comfortable. I created my own space and renovated it, so it really feels like my house. Living in a tiny space feels so cosy and safe.”
She also loves that she can live independently but still be close to her parents.
The only slight drawback is that, while she still has a kitchen, a bed, and a living room, she doesn’t have a toilet or a shower, and has to nip into her parents’ house.
She currently works on a care farm, where disabled people can work alongside farmers, and she plans to finish her university studies next year.
